Clamping connection unit

Abstract

A clamping connection unit for joining two hollow cylindrical pipes together is described. The unit consists of two abutting identically constructed coupling halves (1,2), an elastic O-ring (16) placed between them and a clamping connection (15) pressing the two coupling halves together. The clamping connection is in the form of a pipe clamp and is chamfered off on the internal surfaces of the clamping jaws to form V-shaped surfaces which slide down on similarly chamfered surfaces of annular ridges at the pipe ends to connect the two coupling halves together without leaving a gap.

We claim: 
     
       1. In a clamping connection unit for releasably clamping together two hollow cylindrical pipes, having two abutting coupling halves, one at each pipe end, an elastic sealing ring (O-ring) placed between them and a clamp pressing the two coupling halves together, the improvement comprising   two hollow cylindrical coupling halves (1,2) which are identical in structure and are provided with a cylindrical internal wall surface having a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the pipes, said wall surface being provided with a cylindrical recessed portion having a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the pipes so that said cylindrical wall surface and internal surface of the pipes form a smooth connection when the pipes are positioned in said recessed portion,   each coupling half having a radial surface extending from the cylindrical internal wall surface, an annular recess (17,18) situtated between the internal surfaces of the coupling and external surface of the coupling, said recess being on the radial surface adjacent to the corresponding radial surface of the other coupling half, which annular recess is V-shaped in the axial direction so that an annular gap approximately rectangular in cross-section is formed between the two coupling halves to receive an elastic O-ring (16),   ends of the coupling having annular ridges (7,8) on their outer surfaces, said ridges having adjacent and remote surfaces, said adjacent surfaces (9,10) of the two ridges extending perpendicularly to the axis of the pipes and parallel to said radial surfaces and axially displaced therefrom, said surfaces (11, 12) of said coupling halves remote from one another being chamfered off,   a clamp having jaws, internal surfaces of said jaws which are chamfered off under the same angle as the chamfered off surfaces of said coupling halves so constructed and arranged that the chamfered off internal surfaces of the clamp slide down the chamfered off surfaces of said coupling halves in the radial direction of said pipes whereby said adjacent radial wall surfaces are pressed toward each other against the force of the O-ring,   said coupling halves being engaged in contact with each other solely at said radial surfaces of the coupling between said annular recess and said internal wall surface.   
     
     
       2. Clamping connection unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the clamp is a multipart pipe clamp consisting of two semi-annular jaws (13,14) which are V-shaped on their internal surface and have hooks (19) at each end into which joint clamps (20,21) may be hooked to join the clamping jaws together, at least one joint clamp having a bore with screw thread at one end to receive a screw (22), one end of which acts against a hook (19) on a jaw (14), the clamping jaws pressing the ends of the coupling together by sliding over the chamfered surfaces of the ridges. 
     
     
       3. Clamping connection unit according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that trough-shaped recesses (25,26) extend in the axial direction from the ridges (7,8) on the external surface of the two coupling halves.